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The video below is a recap of the 2013 North American Operational Excellence Summit.
Full Length Video
Attendees from this year’s NAOE Summit can use the video player below to watch the full length segments. Please enter the password that was given during the summit, or contact KCOE to get your password.

If you’ve never attended the Summit, you might be unsure of the environment as well as what to expect in general. As many of our past and current clients have said, the Summit is “invaluable.”
Summit Benefits
Full day of learning
2 keynote speakers leading the OE System
6 session speakers sharing their experience using the tools
Insight from local, non-local, and international speakers
Insight from the healthcare and manufacturing industries
Network with one hundred other practitioners of OE
Information specifically applicable to your next steps
KCOE Clients, close followers,...

10th Annual North American Operational Excellence Summit
Following along in our Summit Blog Series, we will look into the 3 Topics featured at this year’s Summit. In case you missed Part 1, we discussed the premise of the Summit and the 2013 theme “Expanding Your Blueprint for Kaizen Culture.”
Dr. Blanca Velazquez speaking about her experience developing and using a Balanced Scorecard
Summit Topic Sessions
Annual Planning
Annual Planning is a once a year check in the organization’s Plan-Do-Check-Act (PDCA) Cycle. Also known as “Hoshin Kanari” or “Strategy...

10th Annual North American Operational Excellence Summit
On Tuesday, October 15th, 2013 KCOE will host its 10th annual North American Operational Excellence Summit at the Fred M. Rogers Center at Saint Vincent College in Latrobe, PA. The day begins at 8:00am and concludes at 3:30pm. More information can be found on the Summit Homepage.
The Summit has proven to be a premier event for KCOE clients, close followers and others interested in learning about Operational Excellence. It’s an opportunity to spend a day with others who are implementing, learning, and understanding how Operational...

Balanced Scorecard Meetings from an NFL Draft Perspective
“With the first pick in the NFL Draft,” the words every college football player longs to hear before the announcement of their name on draft day in late April. Before these words are spoken, before the joy of the NFL’s newest rookies, before the delight and/or dismay of NFL fans, before any dreams are made reality, planning must commence.
In the NFL, from February through early April, scouts and coaches from all 32 teams plan to solve the problems that hindered their teams the past season. Even the lone champion...

Co-Ops share a suggestion at the Daily Meeting
Although they may seem like interruptions at first, Daily Meetings can help improve any organization. Daily Meetings are effective because they bring team members together on a daily basis to align goals and strategy and to look at problems from the previous day. Though many employees may view Daily Meetings as an interruption of their work, over time the meetings will prove to be highly effective. The purpose of a Daily Meeting is not to interrupt, but rather to discuss metrics and problems (blessings) as well as communicate priorities. ...

Check out the article featuring KCOE in reference to corporate agencies partnering up with universities: link below. Large corporations are currently seeking partnerships with colleges to obtain, or maintain world class. The article describes such companies as being a “powerhouse” while creating jobs in the Pittsburgh region.
http://www.pittsburghmagazine.com/Pittsburgh-Magazine/September-2012/Winning-Combination/

Generally speaking, people are usually drawn to the beach for the summer. However, this summer I left my shore home in New Jersey and started the 300+ mile trip back to the KCOE office located in Latrobe, PA in order to continue my 2.5 year Co-Op internship. This summer us Co-Ops were able to “go and see” a manufacturing line in production and noted there were several quality and productivity problems. Some examples of said problems, or blessings as we say included: employees were unaware of how to do unfamiliar procedures when the corresponding employee was absent; meaning that...

Steelers bring large crowds to Saint Vincent College
The Pittsburgh Steelers have brought more than their pads, helmets, and large appetites to the Saint Vincent campus for training camp. They have also brought a passionate, supportive crowd that has livened up the campus during the summertime. Training camp, which began in late July, runs until August 17th and offers many great features. Fans can watch the Steelers practice up close, win prizes at the Experience Camp and get a great view of Saint Vincent’s beautiful setting in Latrobe, PA.
Black and Gold
What about...

Introduction
Students in the Co-Op program at KCOE recently finished our first outside assignment, an OE implementation project at a local manufacturing company. The outside project, which began early in the summer, was an eye opening experience for the Co-Ops, who were able to see a production line in person.
Standard Work
We went to the plant hoping to document processes on the floor and create standard work for them. Standard work, which is a Phase Two of the KCOE System for Operational Excellence, is a valuable resource for companies such as this one. Standard work is beneficial...